TILIACEAE

Basswood

Tilia americana L.

HABIT.—A tree usually 60-70 feet high, with a tall, straight trunk 2-4 feet in diameter; numerous slender branches form a dense, ovoid or rounded crown.

LEAVES.—Alternate, simple, 5-6 inches long, 3-4 inches broad; obliquely heart-shaped; coarsely serrate; thick and firm; glabrous, dull dark green above, paler beneath; petioles slender, 1-2 inches long.

FLOWERS.—June-July, after the leaves; perfect, regular; yellowish white, downy, fragrant; borne on slender pedicels in loose, drooping cymes, the peduncle attached for half its length to a narrow, oblong, yellowish bract; sepals 5, downy; petals 5, creamy white; stamens numerous, in 5 clusters; ovary 5-celled; stigma 5-lobed.

FRUIT.—October; globose, nut-like, woody, gray, tomentose, about the size of peas.

WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud absent; lateral buds ovoid, acute, often lopsided, smooth, dark red, 1/4 inch long.

BARK.—Twigs smooth, reddish gray, becoming dark gray or brown; dark gray and smooth on young stems, on old trunks thick, deeply furrowed into broad, scaly ridges.

WOOD.—Light, soft, close-grained, tough, light red-brown, with thick sapwood of nearly the same color.

DISTRIBUTION.—Common in most parts of the Lower Peninsula, frequent in the Upper Peninsula.

HABITAT.—Prefers rich, well-drained, loamy soils.

NOTES.—Rapid in growth. Easily transplanted. Recommended for street and ornamental planting.